[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45447-45448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18470]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2012-D-1161]


Design Considerations for Devices Intended for Home Use; Guidance 
for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff; Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the 
availability of the guidance entitled ``Design Considerations for 
Devices Intended for Home Use.'' This document is intended to assist 
manufacturers in designing and developing home use medical devices that 
comply with applicable standards of safety and effectiveness and other 
regulatory requirements. Devices used in the home or other non-clinical 
environments are associated with unique risks created by the 
interactions among the user (often a layperson), the use environment, 
and the device. This document identifies several factors that 
manufacturers should consider, especially during device design and 
development, and provides recommendations for minimizing these unique 
risks.

DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on this guidance at 
any time. General comments on Agency guidance documents are welcome at 
any time.

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the guidance document is available for 
download from the Internet. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
for information on electronic access to the guidance. Submit written 
requests for a single hard copy of the guidance document entitled 
``Design Considerations for Devices Intended for Home Use'' to the 
Office of the Center Director, Guidance and Policy Development, Center 
for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Food and Drug 
Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, Rm. 5431, Silver 
Spring, MD 20993-0002. Alternatively, you may submit written requests 
for single copies of the guidance to the Office of Communication, 
Outreach, and Development, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 
(CBER), Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 
71, Rm. 3128, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed 
adhesive label to the office that you are ordering from to assist that 
office in processing your request.
    Submit electronic comments on the guidance to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments to the Division of Dockets 
Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, 
Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Identify comments with the docket number 
found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning the 
guidance as it relates to devices regulated by CDRH: Mary Brady, Center 
for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 
10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, Rm. 5426, Silver Spring, MD 20993-
0002, 301-796-6089.
    For information concerning the guidance as it relates to devices 
regulated by CBER: Stephen Ripley, Center for Biologics Evaluation and 
Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 
71, Rm. 7301, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 240-402-7911.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    For a variety of reasons, use of devices outside professional 
healthcare facilities is on the rise. First, the U.S. population is 
aging, and the elderly are more likely to live with chronic diseases 
that require daily medical care at home. Second, due to medical 
advancements, many individuals with chronic diseases are living longer 
but are dependent on home medical care. Finally, an increasing focus on 
reducing healthcare costs for patients of all ages has spurred the 
growth of the home health care market. Integral to the home health care 
market are home use devices. Although home use devices provide 
significant benefits to patients and families, including quality of 
life improvements and cost savings, they are also associated with 
unique risks. Minimizing the risks posed by home use devices can 
greatly improve the public health.
    This guidance provides recommendations for designing and developing 
medical devices intended for home use through considerations involving 
the physical environment, the user, the device or system, the labeling, 
and human factors. This should result in a safe and easier-to-use 
device, minimize use error, and reduce the likelihood that adverse 
events will occur. The recommendations in the guidance apply to both 
prescription and over-the-counter medical devices that are intended for 
use in the home or other non-clinical environments.
    In the Federal Register of December 13, 2012 (77 FR 74195), FDA 
announced the availability of the draft guidance document. Interested 
persons were invited to comment by March 13, 2013. FDA reviewed the 
comments and revised the guidance as appropriate.

II. Significance of Guidance

    This guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance 
practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents the 
Agency's current thinking on design considerations for devices intended 
for home use. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any 
person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternative 
approach may be used if such approach satisfies the requirements of the 
applicable statute and regulations.

[[Page 45448]]

III. Electronic Access

    Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the guidance may do so by 
downloading an electronic copy from the Internet. A search capability 
for all CDRH guidance documents is available at http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/default.htm. Guidance documents are also available at http://www.regulations.gov or from CBER at http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/default.htm. Persons unable to download an electronic copy of ``Design 
Considerations for Devices Intended for Home Use'' may send an email 
request to [email protected] to receive an electronic copy of 
the document. Please use the document number 1750 to identify the 
guidance you are requesting.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This guidance refers to currently approved collections of 
information found in FDA regulations. These collections of information 
are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The 
collections of information in 21 CFR part 801 and 21 CFR 809.10 have 
been approved under OMB control number 0910-0485; the collections of 
information in 21 CFR part 803 have been approved under OMB control 
number 0910-0437; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 807, 
subpart E have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0120; the 
collections of information in 21 CFR part 814 have been approved under 
OMB control number 0910-0231; the collections of information in 21 CFR 
part 820 have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0073; and the 
collections of information in Form FDA 3500A have been approved under 
OMB control number 0910-0291.

V. Comments

    Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding 
this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the 
Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to 
send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number 
found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments 
may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: July 31, 2014.
Leslie Kux,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-18470 Filed 8-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P